Bailer for oil well bores



Nov. 17, 1953 w. N. su'rLlFF BAILER FOR OIL WELL BORES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l, 1951 Nov. 17, 1953 w. N. suTLlFF BAILER FOR OIL WELL oREs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l INVENTOR. 0,4 we Al. 50u/FF Patented Nov. 17, 1953 2,659,442 BAILER FOR OIL WELL BORES Wayne N. Sutlill", Bakersfield, Calif.

Application June 1, 1951,

11 Claims.

serial No. 229,389

The present invention relates to `subsurface K particularly to bailers for well bore well tools, and more catching entrapping debris in the and removing it to the top of the hole.

An object of the present invention is generally to improve subsurface well bailers for cleaning the Well bore of junk, detritus, and other debris that might be contained therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydrostatic well bailer that can be lowered readily in the well bore by allowing the well fluid to bypass or circulate through the well bailer. When the weil debris is being forced into the bailer, such by-passing is prevented.

A further object oi the invention is to provide a hydrostatic caller in which the hydrostatic pressure on the equipment above the bailer internaliy and externally thereof is substantially equalized during elevation of the bailer in the well bore, thereby precluding removal of the debris from the bailer during such elevation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydrostatic bailer adapted to be run in the well bore on a tubular string in which iiuid is allowed to drain from the string during its elevation in the well bore, in order 4to avoid the pulling of a wet job as the stands of tubing above the derrick loor are unscrewed from the remainder of the tubular string.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a hydrostatic bailer adapted to be run in a well bore on a tubular string, in which circulation down through the tubular string and bailer can be established 'whenever desired.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made shown in the drawings accompanying and formthe present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illusf the general principles of the invention; is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a hydro-v static well bailer, with its parts disposed in their relative positions during lowering of the bailer through a well bore;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, illustrating the bailer during movement of debris in the Well bore thereinto;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, illustrating the loaded bailer being elevated in the well bore;

2 Fig. fi is .an isometric projection of the check valve element employed at the lower end of the bailer;

Fig.. 5 is a View Similar to Fig. 4, with a portion in longitudinal section;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the valve in closed DDStiOllS Fig- 7 is a t0n position;

Fig. 8 isa longitudinal Vsection taken along the line 8 8 on Fie. 6;

Fig. 9 is a Ycrossesection taken along the line 9-9 on Fig. 8.

The bailer apparatus illustrated in the drawings can be lowered in a well bore on the lower end of a tubular string, such as tubing and drill pipe, to the location of debris in the well bore that is .to be entrapped in the bailer and lifted to the top of the hole, for appropriate disposition. The bailer is of the hydrostatic type, in which the hydrostatic head of iiuid externally of the apparatus is availed of for forcing the debris upwardlyinto the bailer.

The lower portion of the bailer apparatus includes a generally cylindrical plan view ofthe valve in open ment having a I2 having slots tei-nal flange I3 are adapted to be opened or closed by a shoe I 9 slidabie on the sleeve I E and depending therefrom. The shoe has an inner seal ring 20 secured thereto adapted to be disposed over the exterior of the by-pass ports E8 to close the same, and it is also provided with a downwardly flaring portion 2I for guiding the debris into the lower portion of the bailer .barrel or container I0.

Theshoe I9 is s lidable upwardly with respect is slidable ydow;iwafrdly with respect to theclaI-np sleeve'to a position limited by engagement of the o seal ring 20 with the stop flange 23, wherein the by-pass ports I8 are open (Fig. 3). Movement of the shoe between the two positions described is facilitated by outwardly bowed friction or drag springs 24 engageable with the wall of the well bore or well casing, and secured to the upper portion of the shoe |8 by one or more screws 25 that may also attach the seal ring 20 to the shoe.

The bailer container or barrel I8 extends upwardly from itsl lower portion to the desired length, and has a plurality of fluid bleeder ports or holes 26 through its side wall above an inwardly directed barrel flange or stop shoulder 21. These bleeder ports 26 can be opened or closed by a slidable valve head 28 initially secured in an upward position above the ports by one or more shear screws 28 extending through the barrel and into the head. When in this position, the head 28 engages a stop ring 3B threaded into the upper end of the barrel, in order to suspend the barrel l and the parts secured thereto from the head 28.

The head 28 is integral with an upwardly extending sleeve portion 3| threadedly secured to a tubular sub 32, a perforated strainer 33 extending across the sub and headV passages 34, 35 and being clamped therebetween. The upper end of the sub 32 is threaded into an elongate valve body 36, in which a tubular valve or plunger 31 is slidably mounted. The lower portion of this plunger 31 is formed as a circulating valve cage 38 having one or more slots 38 extending through its side wall and also containing a valve seat 40 threaded thereinto engageable by a valve ball 4| upon upward movement of the latter. The valve ball 4| is urged in an upward direction into engagement with its companion seat 40 by a helical compression spring 42 engaging the ball and a closure plug or seat 43 threaded into the lower end of the cage 38.

Rotation between the tubular plunger 31 and the valve body 36 is preferably prevented, as by forming one or more keys 44 on the plunger 31 slidable within companion elongate keyways 45 formed in the body 36. The valve cage 38 extends into the tubular sub 32, but has a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the passage 34 through the sub, to allow fluid to flow upwardly between the cage and the sub and into the valve body 36 thereabove. Similarly, the lower portion of the valve body passage 46 has a greater diameter than the diameter of the plunger l31; so as to allow iluid to flow therebetween. Such fluid is capable of passing into the central plunger passageway 41 through one or more side or circulation ports 48.

The plunger also has one or more upper drain or equalizing ports 48 spaced longitudinally from the circulation ports 48, and adapted to be disposed within a packing 50 clamped to the valve body 3B by a suitable packing nut 5|, in which position the upper ports 48 are closed, or located above the packing nut I, in which position such ports 48 are open, depending upon the position of the valve plunger 31 within the body 36. Such movement is effected by threading the upper end of the plunger 31 into a tubular sub 52, which is, in turn, threaded onto an upper sub 53 that may constitute the lower end of a tubular string extending to the top of the well bore, or of some other chamber. The lower entrance 54 to the tubular string or chamber 53 is closed initially by a frangible sealing disc 55 clamped against a shoulder 58 on the upper sub 53 by a suitable clamp nut 51 threaded into the latter.

The fluid passing upwardly through the sub 52 and into the upper sub 53, following breaking of the disc 55, must flow through a perforated strainer 58 clamped between the subs.

If desired, the barrel |3 of the bailer may have a plurality of longitudinally spaced plates or debris supporting ns 58 secured thereto, and projecting inwardly of the barrel in an upwardly inclined direction.

The apparatus is the lower end of the assembled and mounted on tubular string 53 and is lowered in the well bore, the parts occupying the relative'position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the sealing disc 55 is closed, to prevent passage of fluid into the tubular string, which normally is dry, containing nothing more than air at atmospheric pressure. The downward movement engages the lower end of the sub 52 with the packing nut 5|, which locates the upper ports 48 within the packing 58 and closes them. The lower ports 48, however, are disposed below the packing 5U within the enlarged portion 46 of the valve body 36; so that fluid can flow upwardly around the plunger 31 and through these circulation ports 48 into the central passage 41 of the plunger.

The weight of the barrel I0 and the one or more shear screws 28 securing the barrel to the valve head 28 hold the barrel in a lower position relative to the head, in which the upper bleeder ports 26 are open. The frctional engagement of the drag springs 24 against the wall of the well bore or well casing tends to resist downward movement of the shoe I9 and causes the latter to occupy an upward position relative to the sleeve I6, disposing the seal ring 20 in closed position over the lower bypass ports I8.

With the foregoing relationship of parts, the tool is lowered in the well bore, the uid in the well by-passing upwardly through the check valve II and barrel I0 for outward passage through the upper bleeder holes or ports 25 in the barrel. The fluid cannot pass upwardly through the tubular sub 32 and through the circulation ports 48, since the passage through the tubular plunger 31 and lower sub 52 is effectively closed by the upper ports 48 being closed within the packing 50 and by the unbroken sealing disc 55.

When the apparatus reaches the debris D contained in the well bore, downward movement of the shoe I8 and barrel |0 is arrested. Down weight can now be imposed on the tubular string 53 and the lower sub 52, valve body 35, tubular sub 32 and valve head 28, shearing the screw 28 and moving the valve head 26 downwardly to the position disclosed in Fig. 2, in which it is disposed over the upper bleeder ports 26, to close the latter. A go-devil or breaker 55 is then dropped down the drill string 53, striking the sealing disc 55 and breaking it. Such breaking action allows fluid to enter the empty tubing string 53, which fluid can only be urged upwardly through the lower end of the shoe I8. As a result, the debris D in the well bore is subjected to a relatively high hydrostatic head pressure differential, which is the diiference in the hydrostatic head between the fluid level externally of the apparatus and tubing string 53 and the fluid level internally thereof, which can be initially at a substantially zero value. This pressure differential forces the debris D upwardly through the shoe I8, stretching the valve body |2 laterally outwardly and somewhat upwardly to open the slots |2a, the debris passing into the bailer barrel In. The-debris is prevented from passing upwardly above 4the Abarrel by the lower .strainer 33. The iiuid, however, `entrapped and Vcornmingled in the debris can pass through sueh strainer into the tubular sub 32, owing around the valve 4plunger 3! and through the vlower circulation ports 138 for continued upward movement through the plunger passage 41, `lowersub 52, and perforated strainer 58 into the lower end of the tubing string or chamber 53.

When the debris D has lled the barrel or container ID, the Atubing string 53 vvcan be elevated, which elevates the plunger 3.1 within the valve body 36 to the extent limited by engagement of the key 44 with the upper -end of the keyway d5. This action disposes the Iupper plunger ports 49 above the packing nut 5l, opening these ports and eiecting communication .between the tubular plunger passage 41 and the well bore around the apparatus. Also, such elevating movement raises the valve head 23 into engagement with the stop ring 39 to a position above the container bleeder holes 26 and also lifts the barrel .I with respect to the shoe i9, disposing its seal ring 20 against the stop flange `23 on the sleeve l and below the by-pass or bleeder ports I8, effecting opening` of .the latter.

When the upper ports 49 through the plunger 3'! pass above the packing 5U and packing nut 5l, the well fluid can then flow freely into the tubing string 53, so as to equalize the hydrostatic head internally and externally of the tubing string, imposing no further hydrostatic head differential on the debris D below the shoe I9, tending to push the latter upwardly into the barrel ill. As a matter of fact, the debris entrapped within the barrel and resting on the downwardly closing check valve Il and also on the supporting plates 59, if the plates are used at all, is not subjected to any further hydrostatic head pressure differentials, since both the upper and lower ports or holes 2E, lil through the barrel are in open position. As a result, there is very little force tending to urge the debris D out of the barrel lil while the equipment is being elevated in the well bore to the top of the hole.

During elevation of the equipment in the well bore, the fluid therearound can by-pass the equipment by flowing past the exterior of the `shoe I9, and also by passing through the open lower by-pass ports I8, thereby not interfering with upward movement of the equipment.

As noted above, the opening of the upper plunger ports 49 allows the hydrostatic head .eX- ternally and internally of the tubing string 53 to be equalized, by allowing the tubing string to fill with the well fluid. These ports 49 remain open; so that the iiuid in the tubing string can flow outwardly therethrough during raising of the tubing string in the well bore. As a result of the dropping of the level of the well duid in the tubing string, the stands of tubing above the derriok floor will be in a dry condition when being unscrewed from the remainder of the tubing string therebelow; preventing a wet job from being pulled by the equipment. Moreover, during such upward movement ofthe equipment, the fluid in the tubing string 53 can have very little effect on the debris D entrapped within the barrel lil, since the upwardly Vseating check valve di Voffers Vsome resistance to downward movement of the .fluid through the lower vportion of the tubular plunger 3l, in View of the force exerted by the'valve spring 42.

During lowering of the apparatus "in the well bore, if, for some reasons, circulation is to 'be 6 established down y.through *the tubing 53, the `circulation valvev A0, 4:1, '42 will permitY this action to occur, and will allow a large volume vof the strainer 35 and valve head 28 into the barrel Hl, flowing outwardly through the upper barrel ports 2G.

It is, accordingly, .apparent that a hydrostatic bailerhas been provided 'which allows the well fluid to by-pass readily through the bailer while the latter is being lowered in the well bore, and in which the hydrostatic head of fluid externally ofthe equipment is availed of to force the debris into the bailer. In addition, elevation of the equipment automatically equalizes the hydrostatic pressure internally and externally of the tubing string, as well as allowing the fluid to drain vfrom the tubing string as it is being elevated in the well bore. The hydrostatic head of iuid in the well bore is prevented from acting on the debris entrapped lwithin the bailer during its elevation, and the well fluid can-also bfi-pass around the debris-containing portion of the bailer during its elevation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a cheek valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing saidbarrel below said valve; a shoe slidable relatively upwardly onsaid barrel to close said opening, said shoe being slidable relatively downward on said barrel to open said opening; the upper portion of said barrel having an opening to allow iluid passage between the interior and exterior of said barrel; a valve member siidable in said barrel and operable by the running-in string to be shifted selectively downward to closed position over said upper openin or upwardly to open position above said upper opening; and means releasably holding said valve in its upward position to place said upper opening in open con-:iition as the bailer is being lowered in the well, and being releasable upon the imposition thereto of a predetermined load to release the `valve member to allow downward movement thereof to close said upper opening.

2. In a bailer tobe lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable oi allowing upward passage of substances through said'valve per portion of said barrel to allow fluid passage between the interior and exterior of said'barrek'a tubular valve member slidable in said barrel and having a head movable downwardly to closed position over said opening and upwardly to open position above said one armere openings; a tubular plunger telescoped with respect to said valve member and being progressively exposed to the well uid during withdrawal movement thereof with respect to said valve member and having a fluid passage closed by said valve meinberwhen said plunger is shifted downwardly with respect to 'said `-valve member, .said duid passage being openedto allowuidiflow-fbetween thein'teriorfand exterior of said plunger when said plunger' is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member.

3. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing upward passage of substances through said valve and into said barrel; a by-pass opening through said barrel below said valve; a shoe slidable relatively upward on said barrel to close said opening, said shoe being slidable relatively downward on said barrel to open said opening; the upper portion of said barrel having an upper opening to allow fluid flow between the interior and exterior of said barrel; a tubular Valve member slidable in said barrel and having a head movable downwardly to closed position over said upper opening and upwardly to open position above said upper opening; a tubular plunger telescoped within said valve member and having a fluid passage closed by said valve member when said plunger is shifted downwardly with respect to said valve member, said fluid passage being opened to allow fluid flow between the interior and exterior of said plunger when said plunger is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member.

4. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing upward passage of substances through said valve and into said barrel; a by-pass opening through said barrel below said valve; a shoe slidable relatively upward on said barrel to close said opening, said shoe being slidable relatively downward on said barrel to open said opening; the upper portion of said barrel having an upper opening to allow fluid flow between the interior and exterior of said barrel; a tubular valve member slidable in said barrel and having a head movable downwardly to closed position over said upper opening and upwardly to open position above said upper opening; means releasably holding said valve member in its upward position releasable upon the imposition thereto of a predetermined load to permit downward movement of said valve member; a tubular plunger telescoped within said valve member and having a fluid passage closed by said valve member when said plunger is shifted said fluid passage being opened to allow fluid flow between the interior and exterior of said plunger when said plunger is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member; and friction drag means on said shoe engageable with the wall of the well bore.

5. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing upward passage of substances through said valve and into said barrel; a tubular valve member operatively connected to said barrel; a tubular plunger telescoped with respect to said valve member and being progressively exposed to the well fluid during withdrawal movement thereof with respect to said valve member and having a fluid passage closed by said valve member when said plunger is shifted downwardly with respect to said valve member, said fluid passage being opened to allow fluid flow between the interior and exterior of said plunger when said plunger is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member.

6. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing upward passage of substances through said valve and into said barrel; a tubular valve member operatively connected to said barrel; a tubular plunger slidable within said valve member and ihaving an upper fluid passage closed by said valve member when said plunger is shifted downwardly with respect to said valve member, said fluid passage being opened to allow fluid flow between the .interior and exterior of said plunger when said jplunger is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member; said plunger having a lower opening below said passage to allow fluid flow between the interior of said plunger and the interior of said valve member below said passage.

'7. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing upward passage of substances through said valve and into said barrel; a tubular valve member op- :eratively connected to said barrel; a tubular plunger slidable within said valve member and having an upper fluid passage closed by said valve member when said plunger is shifted downwardly with respect to said valve member, said ifluid passage being opened to allow uid flow between the interior and exterior of said plunger when said plunger is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member; said plunger having .a lower opening below said passage to allow fluid flow between the interior of said plunger and the interior of said valve member below said passage; a chamber attached to said plunger and having an inlet; and releasable means initially closing said inlet to prevent upward flow of fluent substances from said plunger into said chamber.

8. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing upward passage of substances through said valve and into said barrel; a tubular valve member operatively connected to said barrel; a tubular plunger slidable within said valve member and having an upper fluid passage closed by said valve member when said plunger is shifted downwardly with respect to said valve member, said fluid passage being opened to allow fluid flow between the interior and exterior of said plunger when said plunger is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member; said plunger having a lower opening below said passage to allow fluid flow between the interior of said plunger and the interior of said valve member below said passage; a chamber attached to said plunger and having an inlet; and a breakable disc initially closing said inlet.

9. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at the lower portion of said barrel capable of allowing upward passage of substances through said valve and into said barrel; a tubular valve member 0D- eratively connected to said barrel; a tubular plunger slidable within said valve member and having an upper fluid passage closed by said valve member when said plunger is shifted downwardly with respect to said valve member, said fluid passage being opened to allow fluid flow between the interior and exterior of said plunger when said plunger is shifted upwardly with respect to said valve member; said plunger having a lower opening below said passage to allow fluid flow between the interior of said plunger and the interior of said valve member below said passage; and a downwardly open check valve in said plunger below said lower opening.

10. In a bailer to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string: a barrel; a check valve at to allow fluid ilow between the interior and exthe lower portion of said barrel capable of allowterior oi said barrel; a tubular valve member to open position above said opening; a tubular 10 Said Valve member, Said uid passage being wardly with respect to said valve member, said ber; a chamber attached to said plunger and :fluid passage being opened to allow fluid flow be- 15 having an inlet; and releasable means initially tween the interior and exterior of said plunger closing said inlet to prevent upward ow of uent when said plunger is shifted upwardly with resubstances from said plunger into said chamber. spect to said valve member; a chamber attached WAYNE N. SU'ILIFF.

able means initially closing said inlet to prevent 20 References Cited in the file 0f this patent portion of said barrel having an upper opemn' g 2525'954 Schabarum Oct' 17' 1950 

